Ukraine troops involved in tough fighting around key eastern town - Zelenskiy

Ukrainian troops have been involved in intense fighting near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, which Russia wants to seize, President Volodymyr Zeleskiy (pictured) stated in a video address on Saturday (8 October).

Officials say that although Ukrainian troops have retaken thousands of square kilometres in recent offensives in east and south, there is a possibility of slowing progress once Kyiv's forces face more determined resistance.

Russian forces have tried repeatedly to seize Bakhmut which is located on the main road that leads to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Both of them are located in the Donbas industrial region, which Moscow has yet fully captured.

Zelenskiy said: "We are holding our positions within the Donbas, in special in the Bakhmut direction where it's very, very difficult now. Very tough fighting."

Zelenskiy repeated his call for greater anti-aircraft system support from the western allies.

Russian forces continue to fire missiles at Ukrainian cities. Kyiv accuses them using Iranian suicide drones.

A Zaporizhzhia official said that a Russian missile had struck a building late Saturday.

Officials also said that the death toll from the Russian rocket attack on Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday had risen to 18.

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